Migraine

OPES Health Channelside

Dentists & Primary Care Practice located in Tampa, FL

About 5 million men, women, and children experience at least one migraine headache per month, and fortunately for those in the Tampa, Florida area, Victor Cruz, MD offers solutions. When you come into OPĒS Health Channelside, he determines the root of the problem and possibly prescribes an oral medication or Botox®. Schedule an appointment for migraine relief today by using the online form or calling the practice.

Migraine Q & A

What is a migraine?

A migraine brings a severe, throbbing pain or pulsing sensation in your head. Typically, you experience a migraine on only one side of your head.

In some cases, you have an aura before you have a migraine, which sometimes causes visual or auditory symptoms such as having blind spots or seeing flashes of light.

What are the symptoms of a migraine?

Before

One to two days before you experience a migraine, you might have symptoms including:

Mood changes like euphoria or depression

Constipation

Frequent yawning

Food cravings

Neck stiffness

Increased thirst

Increased urination

During

A migraine causes a throbbing or pulsing pain. You might have a sensitivity to light or sound. In some cases, you may experience nausea or vomiting in addition to a severe headache. It’s possible to feel lightheaded or faint.

After

After a migraine, you might feel drained, while other people feel elated that the attack is over. Sometimes, you have symptoms known as postdrome for 24 hours after a migraine. Postdrome symptoms include:

Moodiness

Sensitivity to light and sound

Confusion

Weakness

Dizziness

What oral medications does a physician prescribe for a migraine?

Sometimes, Dr. Cruz prescribes over-the-counter medications for migraines that relieve pain and inflammation. He might go with prescription-strength medication to relieve your pain and discomfort as well. Examples of these medications are:

Aspirin

Acetaminophen (Excedrin®, Tylenol®)

Naproxen (Aleve®)

Ketorolac (Toradol®)

Diclofenac (Cataflam®)

Another classification of drug Dr. Cruz may prescribe is ergotamine, which is the first class of drugs developed for migraines. These medications cause the blood vessels around your brain to contract, ultimately relieving migraine pain in minutes. Ergotamine examples include:

Dihydroergotamine (Migranal®))

Ergotamine and caffeine (Cafatine, Ercaf)

Ergotamine (Ergomar®)

Methylergonovine (Methergine®)

Methysergide (Sansert®)

Dr. Cruz could prescribe a triptan, which is a newer category of migraine drugs. This classification reduces inflammation and constricts blood vessels. Examples of triptans include:

Naratriptan (Amerge)

Almotriptan (Axertr®)

Rizatriptan (Maxalt)

Sumatriptan (Imitrex)

How does Botox treat a migraine?

Botox®, the brand name for onabotulinumtoxinA, is an injectable drug that prevents the muscles from contracting, preventing headaches from occurring. Most people have to take Botox regularly. It doesn’t stop a migraine once it starts, but it can prevent them from recurring.

Schedule an appointment with Dr. Cruz using the online scheduling tool or by calling the office to find relief from your migraine pain.